Derived from the Olde French 'Gantier'. The name is job descriptive for a 'Maker or Seller of Gloves'. The name is early as a recording although the first appearance is as Lefwinus Le Wanter, (1172, Oxford) Wantier being a variant, whilst the modern spelling is nearly 100 years later - Adam Le Ganter, 1279, Oxford. The name was early into America, Lester Ganter (aged 13) being a passenger on the ship Truelove on the 19th September 1635. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam Le Gaunter. which was dated 1220, The Pipe Rolls of Middlesex. during the reign of King Henry 111, The Frenchman 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.